Engine hesitates

ste_bla · 21 Apr 2006 at 20:11

I noticed today when accelerating my engine hesitates, not as in when you put your foot down it takes a while to kick in, but as in I go from a standing start and put my foot down and when the engine hits around 4k it then stop accelrating and makes a low grumble noise + drops 0.5k in revs and then 2 seconds later it shots back upto 4.5k revs!

This happens in all the gears but most noticeable in 2nd and 3rd

Any ideas?

BTW the cars a 94 Escort 1.6l 16v

excaliborg · 21 Apr 2006 at 20:20

Clutch ok?

DRZ · 21 Apr 2006 at 20:22

Sounds like a fuelling problem to me, though I am sure someone more experienced will be a long in a sec with a probable diagnosis

ste_bla · 21 Apr 2006 at 20:23

I think the clutch is okay feels normal

Could it be "bad" fuel (is there such a thing?) as i filled it from empty last night and now...

Ops forgot; I took out the plugs and checked the spacing and sprayed wd40 onto the leads to make sure they are making contract and that made no difference, also the air filter is still clean as i only changed it 2 weeks ago

ajgoodfellow · 21 Apr 2006 at 20:56

Did you completely run out of fuel before filling up?

ste_bla · 21 Apr 2006 at 21:01

No roughly 3 litres left in the tank

ajgoodfellow · 21 Apr 2006 at 22:37

I'm not sure then - if you let it completely run out then this can cause problems

Scuzi · 21 Apr 2006 at 22:39

When I had my Escort the original HT leads degraded and caused random misfiring as you describe. Apparently it was a comon enough problem. A new set of leads and plugs sorted it out.

Worth a try.

tickle me elmo · 21 Apr 2006 at 22:53

Scuzi said:
When I had my Escort the original HT leads degraded and caused random misfiring as you describe. Apparently it was a comon enough problem. A new set of leads and plugs sorted it out.

Worth a try.

id do that ^^ and maybe fit a new fuel and air filter.

ste_bla · 21 Apr 2006 at 22:59

Well the plugs, air filter and oil is only 300miles old now.. I'll try new leads but how do i do a fuel filter, is it easy?

Scuzi · 21 Apr 2006 at 23:05

ste_bla said:
Well the plugs, air filter and oil is only 300miles old now.. I'll try new leads but how do i do a fuel filter, is it easy?

Yeah it's simple on the Escort, just a swap job. IIRC the fuel filter is under the car beside the tank. Been a while since I had the Escort so can't really remember.

ste_bla · 21 Apr 2006 at 23:05

Scuzi said:
Yeah it's simple on the Escort, just a swap job. IIRC the fuel filter is under the car beside the tank. Been a while since I had the Escort so can't really remember.

Cheers I'll have a look sunday

Dave L · 23 Apr 2006 at 09:55

I'd go the HT Lead/spark plug route.....

Enfield · 23 Apr 2006 at 12:52

Try changing the distributer cap.

Matt82 · 23 Apr 2006 at 13:27

the hesitation sounds like its maybe running lean, you may want to try a bottle of injector cleaner (millers), carb could need adjusting.

how much are HTs? they seem really dear in most plaes

PMKeates · 23 Apr 2006 at 13:31

Ermm, it's going to be fuel injected Matt82

Matt82 · 23 Apr 2006 at 14:18

yup, so it would smarty pants... so just stick with the injector cleaner then

possible there may be an air leak in the intake system... in fact just bring it round here, id play with it all afternoon, the missus is watching the yellow submarine and im bored!

ste_bla · 23 Apr 2006 at 14:21

okay now i'm worried;

theres a engine cover over where the spark plugs go, and i had a look just now and theres water in there?!

Also 1 lead does look a little worse for ware

And last but not least a spark plug has cracked (the porcerlin bit) i KNOW i didnt crack it so somehow the engine did?

Theres not water missing out of the radiator box though?!

Ultra_Extreme · 23 Apr 2006 at 14:22

id go with air flow sensor, lambda or degraded CAT myself. These are the probs ive seen on escorts with similar issues to you, get emmissions tested and stick it on a computer, or just pop to the scrappy and try and source good examples.

lol just saw the above.....think you may have ignition probs there m8, is it the zetec lump?

burns · 23 Apr 2006 at 14:23

Don't use the car again until you've worked out whats going on with that plug. Good chance the broken bit has fallen into the engine and it's not going to burn up, just bouce about destroying your engine. Are you sure the plug was whole when you put it in?

Engine hesitates

Gangster